Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-01
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The graph below shows average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per person in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Portugal between 1967 and 2007.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The provided line graph depicts the average emission of carbon dioxide across four countries, United kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal produced by per person between the years 1967 and 2007.
Overall, what stands out from the data is that Portugal and Italy represented a significant rise by end of the year, while the USA and Sweden decreased rapidly in 2007.
In 1967, Portugal was the lowest producer of carbon dioxide, it rose to 2 metric tonnes in 1977, and increased to nearly 5 metric tonnes in the year 1997, remained static until 2007. However, Italy's production was stood at just over 4 metric tonnes initially. It grew drastically over the next years, reaching nearly 8 metric tonnes by 2007.
Sweden and the USA were the only countries showed downward trends. Sweden decreasing from nearly 8.8 metric tonnes to reaching 6 metric tonnes in 1997, it further decreased slightly in 2007. Finally the USA dropped to approximately 9 metric tonnes by the end of the year.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers the main features of the graph, but it contains a significant factual error that impacts the task achievement. You mentioned the 'USA' in your summary; however, the graph clearly labels the countries as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal. Including a country not present in the data is a serious oversight. While you successfully identify the trends for the other countries, the misidentification of the data source prevents a higher score. To improve, ensure you carefully read the labels on the axes and the legend before drafting your response to avoid misrepresenting the provided information.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'However', and 'Finally' to guide the reader. However, the progression of ideas is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'represented a significant rise by end of the year'. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion within sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that references to the data are precise and clear throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'downward trends', 'drastically', and 'metric tonnes'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'production was stood at' (should be 'stood at') and 'produced by per person' (which is redundant and grammatically awkward). To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'United kingdom' (needs capitalization), 'represented a significant rise' (should be 'showed' or 'experienced'), and 'Sweden and the USA were the only countries showed' (should be 'that showed'). Additionally, there are issues with verb tense consistency and subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of control over complex structures. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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